Boil-off gas for Qatari LNG carriers?

London: Following the signing of a deal between MAN Diesel and Burckhardt Compression this week, LNG carriers on order for the Qatar Gas Transport Company, known locally as Nakilat, and its independent shipowner partners could have their engine specifications changed. The agreement paves the way for natural gas to be used as an optional fuel to power the ships' main engines, originally intended to burn heavy fuel oil. MAN Diesel has about 90 main engines on order for LNG carriers involved in the project and it is believed that new MC-GI and ME-GI engines capable of burning gas could be substituted on board vessels still to be built, and possibly retrofitted on others.

The agreement between the Copenhagen-based engine builder and the Swiss compressor manufacturer was signed this week by Ole Grøne, MAN Diesel Senior VP nad Burckhardt CEO, Valentin Vogt. The ME-GI propulsion system is the most flexible propulsion solution in the LNG market, MAN Diesel says, noting the particularly low level of harmful emissions. "Increasing fuel oil prices and environmental constraints demand such new propulsion solutions," the company said. It is believed already to be talking to a number of owners associated with Qatari LNG exports about possible main engine alterations. [05/11/07]

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